Ajaokuta Steel risks power cut over N5.46bn debt

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed that the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and its host community are at risk of being disconnected from electricity supply due to unpaid obligations totaling N5.46bn. The complex failed to make payments towards energy invoices and service charges issued by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and the Market Operator during the year 2025.

Ajaokuta received an energy invoice of N4.96bn from NBET but made no payment, along with a N500m service charge invoice from the Market Operator, bringing the total outstanding obligation to N5.46bn. The NERC has escalated the issue to relevant Federal Government ministries for intervention, warning that failure to settle the electricity obligations could lead to disconnection by service providers.

This debt highlights the financial challenges confronting the complex and the broader difficulties surrounding the payment of electricity bills by some government-linked institutions and large power consumers.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.